You have the opportunity

quote:

Obviously we do not have the answers, nor have I stipulated a % cut, but many of us have been involved with the college "environment" with our kids or even our own ancient experiences and we've seen waste and "lost opportunities" in every area. Now is your chance to make a difference. What would you do?

I certainly don't have all the answers, but one thing that comes to mind is: immediately scrap all plans for future construction and facility upgrades, unless absolutely necessary. I don't have a child at Baylor, but have been absolutely blown away at all the "monuments to greatness" the university has constructed in the past few years. It's no wonder that the cost of attendance now tops $37,000. I have zero interest in wasting my money on excessively nice facilities.

Just found this online:

Baylor's Design & Construction Services department supports the mission of Baylor University by providing coordination and project management of major construction projects at the University.....
The Department has managed and executed over $250 million in new construction and building improvements since 2003.

Good question.


Not sure, but most likely would be where I might have to make the most improvements to a sports facilities that is not considered a winning program or desirable one. For example, if I had a losing (win/loss) baseball program and the facilities are in need of repair, that might be a consideration. Or if I needed to build a better olympic syle pool to attract better swim talent that may be a consideration as well.

Those sports that cost nothing to maintain facilities might stay, it all would come down to dollars and sense in the way of cost and up keep of non revenue facilities.

But infield08 brings up a good point, if construction of those facilities means jobs, I may reconsider.

Kids should come first, I have a buddy a professor who makes 120k a year and works i know it's tough 6 months a year. The rest of the year he is hiking, fishing, and drinking my beer (sabatical research). He laughs everyday, multiply his salary times 200 and it's no wonder college costs are through the roof.

quote:

Not sure, but most likely would be where I might have to make the most improvements to a sports facilities that is not considered a winning program or desirable one. For example, if I had a losing (win/loss) baseball program and the facilities are in need of repair, that might be a consideration. Or if I needed to build a better olympic syle pool to attract better swim talent that may be a consideration as well.

But it's cuts that are needed and you have to answer to the State, taxpayers, parents, and board of Regents to justify any improvements and guarantee returns. These are hard economic times.

And you can be sure that providing jobs in the construction industry was no where on Baylor's or any one else's radar in 2003.

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Isn't Baylor a private school? That makes a huge difference...

cadDAD

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I think before people start jumping on a Univ for frivolous projects you have to look at the funding source. I know at the U of WI many of the new builings are built with donations and private funding. When someone hands out a fist full of cash that even with matching funds is a good business venture, and in return all they want is the naming rights, IMHO you can't turn your back on the opportunity.

The Kohl Center - a 15,000 seat basketball and hockey arena donated in a huge part by Sen Kohl aka owner of the Milw Bucks and founder of Kohls stores, and other private donations


13th ranked business school in the country has new digs. The Granger Family donated hundreds of millions for the construction of Granger Hall


The recently built Childrens Hospital was a donation from American Family insurance in conjuction with grants, and State funding. Great bang for the buck

Business is Business~!!~~

In reply to my own question, me talkin to me

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Where would you begin to make cuts ? How would you justify it to the academic and/or athletic depts?

IMHO, cuts have to be made because of prior poor management from individual programs. College teams do not approach alumni and other supporters enough for donations. Example: At my sons alma mater it took years of players making phone calls, coaches reaching out to the right people, but in the end they raised enough for a 5000sq foot baseball only clubhouse. This clubhouse is a resource that will continue to have program payback. Granted much of the funding came from a limited number of donors, but it all adds up in the end.

clubhouse slideshow

But that wasn't enough, back on the phones and what do you know this Northern mid major now has one of the better playing fields in the Country. From what I understand this is not volunteer phone work, every player has to put the time in and as a result I think there is a sense of ownership. In the future when they are part of the work force, the phone rings, and a UIC player is on the other end, I'll bet the checkbook comes out or the alumni has ideas for another contributing resource.

field slideshow

IMHO, committment to athletics has to start at the ground floor. Many programs rely on football to carry them and when cuts have to be made the sniffling begins. If programs on the edge were more creative, and not so relient on their "padded friends" I think there would be fewer non-revenue program issues.

quote:

Originally posted by Infield08:

quote:

Obviously we do not have the answers, nor have I stipulated a % cut, but many of us have been involved with the college "environment" with our kids or even our own ancient experiences and we've seen waste and "lost opportunities" in every area. Now is your chance to make a difference. What would you do?

I certainly don't have all the answers, but one thing that comes to mind is: immediately scrap all plans for future construction and facility upgrades, unless absolutely necessary. I don't have a child at Baylor, but have been absolutely blown away at all the "monuments to greatness" the university has constructed in the past few years. It's no wonder that the cost of attendance now tops $37,000. I have zero interest in wasting my money on excessively nice facilities.

Do you know where the money came from for the projects? It could be from the endowment and fundraising. 37K isn't a lot for a private college. Most are 45-50K.

No doubt mismanagement should be the first thing looked at when a business or institution is not in the black.

Baseball could use a bit of help in making it more fan friendly.

Decent concessions and maybe a school band and cheerleaders would add to the entertainment. Attracting fans has to be part of the business aspect of running the team. Advertising, internet radio, internet video could add to the business and communications majors at the same time.

Make it a fun day in the park.

Cheerleaders??? Bite your tongue. Baseball doesn't need "cheerleaders". Baseball fans are smart enough to know when to cheer all by themselves.

Comp tickets to the campus smart-alecks who could provide high quality heckling, however....

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Not sure exactly which school... is it Arkansas? That video last year of the girls on top of the dugouts would seem to me to bring a few young college fans to the games...

cadDAD

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My original post was in reference to having lack of funds, would I elinimate the sport that needs facility rehab or the sport that needs none, I don't know.
Most improvements come from booster and alumni funds and many have a full time employed fund raiser. In order to keep those that give you money happy, you must produce winning programs or they won't give. Improving facilities means better recruiting. RJM brings up the point that those monuments came from fundraising and endowments, tuition covers other things. And schools have to compete with each other for enrollment. Many students, even those non athletes, want to live in new dorms vs. old, hang out in updated student centers with bowling alleys and rec (not sports) facilities with indoor track or rock climbing walls. Those monuments benfit everyone. But, IMO, with building these monuments has to come a better commitment to education. It means nothing without that.

Not sure if it is true, heard many college endowments have lost so much money through investing, who knows who will have money to improve or who will not.

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Originally posted by AcademyDad:
Not sure exactly which school... is it Arkansas? That video last year of the girls on top of the dugouts would seem to me to bring a few young college fans to the games.

The 2007 Arkansas squad....

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What time is this afternoon's game....????

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quote:

Originally posted by AcademyDad:
What time is this afternoon's game....????.

And I believe they're wearing the warmups in that pic, hotpants are the game uniform. My son played against them for 2 years on the southern "spring swing". Cheerleaders on the dugouts, in the stands, on the field between innings raising all sorts of hel with the crowd, great atmosphere...if your the home team.